New robot has invasive reef starfish in its sights

Drs Matthew Dunbabin (left) and Feras Dayoub (right) have developed the COTSbot, the world’s first robot designed to control the Great Barrier Reef’s crown-of-thorns starfish population. It’s the robot that has the scourge of the Great Barrier Reef in its sights. QUT roboticists have developed the world’s first robot designed to seek out and control the Great Barrier Reef’s crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS), which are responsible for an estimated 40 per cent of the reef’s total decline in coral cover. The COTSbot completed its first sea trials this week in Queensland’s Moreton Bay to test its mechanical parts and navigation system. Its creator, Dr Matthew Dunbabin from QUT’s Institute for Future Environments, said the COTSbot was equipped with stereoscopic cameras to give it depth perception, five thrusters to maintain stability, GPS…